India International Seafood Show brings buyers and sellers to Kochi.

Regarded as the capital of India's seafood industry, Kochi was the place and deliberate was the pace of the 16th running of the India International Seafood Show (IISS) held Feb. 8-10 at Le Meridien Hotel. The biennial event, sponsored jointly by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), attracted more than 400 delegates and featured 70 companies and organizations exhibiting products and services--including a number of foreign finns from Europe and Asia.

Anwar Hashim, national president of the SEAI, described the gathering as a rendezvous of key figures from all corners of the seafood world, representing processing, aquaculture, exporting, importing, equipment and trade promotion sides of the business.

"The Indian seafood industry has made substantial progress during its 42 years of history," emphasized Mr. Hashim in a statement preceding the event. "Though the industry has in the recent past weathered many a crisis, it has been able to maintain its position as a global player--especially with regard to shrimp."

Noting that India has liberalized industrial and trade policies, the SEAI president (who is also chief executive officer of Kochi-headquartered Abad Fisheries Pvt. Ltd.) invited increased external investment and welcomed greater collaboration with Indian partners. "This will open up a wide area for joint venture opportunities in fishing, coastal aquaculture, processing, value addition and marketing," he commented.

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Government of India Commerce Secretary G.K. Pillai, in a message to IISS delegates, noted that the nation's exports tipped the scales at 612,641 metric tons of seafood last year, generating more than $1.85 billion in receipts. "India has risen from the status of a modest supplier of dried fish and low-value items to that of a major exporter of ready-to-eat, value-added seafood items to over 90 countries," he commented.

And the Winners Are!

High-flyers of India's robust seafood export community were honored with 2006-07 Export Awards. Among recipients in frozen product categories:

* Overall Exports: Castlerock Fisheries Pvt. Ltd. of Mumbai; Devi Sea Foods Ltd. of Visakhapatnam.

* Shrimp: Devi Sea Foods; Falcon Marine Export Ltd. of Bhubaneswar.

* Cephalopods: Torry Harris Seafoods Ltd. of Eramaloor; Castlerock Fisheries.

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* Pinfish: Keshodwala Foods of Veraval; Silver Seafoods of Porbandar.

* Molluscs other than Cephalopods: Interseas of Chandiroor; Coastline Fisheries of Chennai.

* Special Efforts: Hindustan Unilever Ltd. of Bangalore.

* Value-Added Products: Accelerated Freeze Drying Co. Ltd of Kochi.

A number of important topics-ranging from India's rising sashimigrade tuna industry and diversification of aquaculture species, to processing technology upgrade projects, and prospects for developing an ornamental fish export business--were addressed at various conferences held during the show. Cultural programs featuring lively song and dance entertainment highlighted evening social activities.

Exhibitors Offer Expertise and More

The exhibitors, meanwhile, provided delegates with useful information that ranged from value-added fishery product assortments available for export, to state-of-the-art processing equipment, shrimp feed and other ingredients, shipping logistics and cold storage services.

Among numerous frozen seafood producers and exporters on the scene were: surimi specialist Gadre Marine Export Pvt. Ltd. of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra; Suryamitra Exim Pvt. Ltd. and Jagadeesh Marine Exports, both of Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh; Frontline Exports Pvt. Ltd. of Aroor Alapuzha, Kerala; and Nila Sea Foods of Tuticorin.

Occupying a double-size stand was C.P. Aquaculture (India) Private Limited, the Red Hills, Chennai, Tamil Nadu-based producer of C.P. scampi feed and Irawan brand prawn feed.

A representative of the company pointed out that proper nutrition is a major factor that can boost the health of shrimp and thus increase production efficiency.

"High quality balanced food is the sole source of energy to the animal," he added. "The raw materials of nutrients are for shrimp to build up cell and body structure. Larvae shrimp must go through metamorphosis to develop into post larvae. These processes require a lot of nutrients and energy which balance and complete nutrition to play a vital role."

In addition to talking up the nutritional merits of C.P. products to shrimp farm operators, the company also used the occasion to distribute "Stop Antibiotics" literature, produced to spread the word on how to ensure food safety, while promoting environmental friendly and sustainable aquaculture in the process.

The Cold Store, billed as India's "largest, most modern, fully pannelized, computer-controlled seafood coldstore," promoted its services at the show. The Abad Exports (P) Ltd. company, which set up a-20[degrees] C, 3,000-pallet-position in Kochi back in 1996, has since established a second coldstore in Chennai. A third unit in Vishakhapatnam is scheduled to open soon.

"With the increasing export of frozen foods and also the development of the frozen food sector domestically, the demand for a reliable cold chain has been increasing," said Javed Hashim, managing director. "This has put us on a path to construct and set up coldstores across major ports and cities in India."

Prince Refrigeration Company Private Limited, an Indo-Italian joint venture between The Elque Group of Kolkatta and Zanotti S.p.A. of Italy, which manufactures and distributes everything from multi-purpose coldstores and walk-in cooler-freezers to plate and blast freezers, was well positioned to attract show-goers to its stand.

"We are offering a new generation of pre-fabricated freezer rooms for preservation of frozen perishables in various specifications," said Prince Xavier Kuriakose, who is based in the company's Kochi office (Phone: +91 484-2700726). "Our range of packaged plate and blast freezers can be used on land or at sea. All units are fully assembled and tested on site."

Baader Food Processing Machinery, the Lubek, Germany-headquartered equipment manufacturer, was on hand with a meat separating and trimmings recovery machine that can be used for fish as well as poultry and other raw protein materials. Andy Miller, managing director, and Marc Schlichte, area sales manager for Africa, India, China and Asia-Pacific, provided hands-on demonstrations.

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Baader works with an Indian agent, Bhusari Colony, Pune-based Cold Products Engineering Pvt. Ltd., which is able to install turnkey systems equipped with whole fish sizers, heading and gutting machines, tail trimmers, filleting stations, skinners, separators and sizing and batching conveyors.

Safmarine, the frozen cargo ocean shipping specialist, was represented by Antwerp, Belgium-based Paul De Coster, Europe trades executive, and Marc Rooms, reefer manager for Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as Mumbai-headquartered Harish Ramaswamy, who is in charge of sales and development in India.

Among Safmarine's frozen seafood export business customers in India are Torry Harris, Mangala Sea Products and Bhatsons Aquatic Products.

Ashok Bhat, managing partner of Bhatsons, voiced satisfaction with Safmarine's "new heavy payload containers, quick documentation and better connectivity in trans-shipment."

Also exhibiting was Visakha Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd., which advertises itself as a "congestion free gateway" and "the only terminal on the east coast to have adequate space to cater to the growing container traffic of India."

The Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh-based operation is a joint venture between Dubai Ports World and United Liner Agencies of India. Facilities at the 24/7 functioning site include two on-dock railway sidings, a full-fledged customs house, coldstores and customs bonding warehouses.